New Ulm weekly review., 1887-02-16

snd he thought their loss m,gns worry
Barbara for another.
Heavily the weeks passed by, and the
autumn tints were mellowing the trees
in the little wood. Madge Craigie had
left Heathfeld, and already the episode
of her love passages with Trevor Lane
We're forgotten. Forgotten by all but
him; he could never forget the vision
Of beauny that had crossed his path
aud changed SO speedily into a hideous
spectre.
No, he would never marry now. So
he had. told BARBARA more than once of
late, and smile had for moment
lighted up her wrinkled, soured face
at his words.
Toward the end Of October change
came to the everyday routine of Heath
field Cottage: Barbara fellill. Siezed
with paralytic stroke, she lay speech
less and powerless. The grand doctor
Trovor sent for from London said she
might rally, but it was doubtful at all
events she would Rcyer be the same
again.
The solicitude and devotion Trevor
showed her was rather that of son than
a cousin, forsaking even his beloved
painting to remain by her bedside and
minister to her every want. But con-
tent WAS not one of her requirements,
and she kept up her character for fret
fulness to the extent Of trying Trevor's
~
IDENTIFY something she wished to say,
and that her loss of speech prevented,
and Irevor's repeated recommendation
that she should remain quiet till she
was better, only served to annoy her.
He was sitting with her at the wane
Of the day, the room only lighted by a
feeble CLEAN Of departing twilight, and
an occasional flicker from wood fire
Cousin Barbara made strange, un-
earthly sound, and pointed with the
forefnger of her left hand to an old
bureau which stood in the corner. Ire
vor took little notice at first, but she
was so persistent that at last he rose
and unfastened the bureau. It's carved
doors shut in rows Of small drawers, one
after another He opened several Of
them, but found nothing. and was be-
ginning to think that he was merely
the victim Of sick woman's caprice,
when on a sudden he uttered cry.
There, in one of them, was the bundle
of documents marked Wilfrid Lane.
He turned and glared on the woman
who lay in the bed looking at him al
most piteously. It was the first time
Barbara had ever seen anger against
herself expressed in Trevor's eyes, and
she covered beneath it, closing her
own, and pulling the bedclothes over
her face.
He did not attempt to speak to her,
but taking up the letters walked out Of
the room, called the little maid Of the
establishment. and bade her go to her
mistress. Then, the letters still in his
hand, he put on his hat and went out.
Poor, wretched Barbara; her punish
ment, when they told her he was gone,
was almost more than she could bear.
He had never forgiven Madge Craigie
when he believed her to be the thief,
how then could Barbara hope to be
forgiven.
All that night he did not return, and
during the next day there was no sign
from him; the servants and neighbors
did the best they could for Barbara,
who was SO quiet and enduring and pa
tient that they all believed the end
must be very near, since no one had
ever seen her so subdued before
Twenty four hours had passed since
Trevor Lane went away with the letters
T = 10 I,
garden gate, and he, himself got out,
accompanied by Madge Craigie.
She looked very i'll and wan and was
by no means the handsome Madgs she
had been five. mouths ago; still there
was bright expression in her eyes
which looked like rapturing happiness.
Trevor led her straight up stairs to
Barbara, whose agitation On beho!ding
her was painful to Witness, but Madgs
knelt down beside the bed, and taking
the old woman's hand she kissed it
gently.
"You loved him so we'll you grudged
him to me, did you not, poor cousin :?
Well, he has promised for my sake to
forgive you, and together we will try
and nurse you back to health, and you
will on your part try to love me just a
little"
Barbara nodded her head in assent,
and the doctor coming in at that mement
ordered no more talking, SO the lovers,
restored to bliss in each others society.
went down stairs into the studio, and
the old lady, with load taken off her
mind, was left by means of one Of the
doctors draughts to have few hours
of quiet sleep. Nor did cousin Barbara
die. She fought vigorously with death
for day or two, and for a while she
succeeded. She would never be able to
speak quickly or sharply again, but she
managed to make herself understood,
and in expressing her deep contrition
for the past she kept her word when she
said she would always be gracious and
pleasant To her new cousin in the future